Electric-light service indicator



Dec. 25,

J. M. CESAR 2,580,074

ELECTRIC LIGHT SERVICE INDICATOR F'iled Oct. 11, 1950 I l 3039 17 L51 11 f 2 J5- 24 Jr INVENTOR.

Cesar;

vzyi w ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC-LIGHT SERVICE-INDICATOR Jorge M. Cesar, Monterrey, Mexico Application October 11, 1950, Serial No. 189,564 2 Claims. (o1.177--329) This invention relates to service calling and indicating devices of the type used on tables, particularly in restaurants, and in particular a comparatively small cylindrical shaped casing pivotally mounted in a stand and having an elec-.

tric light in the lower end with a battery slidably mounted in an opening extended through the casing and positioned to engage contacts to when the buttons are out of order repairing the lighting circuit is difilcult and costly.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a service indicating device that is formed of a separate and independent unit and that may be readily actuated by a customer to indicate that service is desired.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to

provide means for constructing a small service indicating device whereby the device may be ac tuated to light a light without having electrical connections extended therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service indicating device that may be provided as an independent unit and placed upon a table or other surface as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service indicating device in which the location thereof may be changed as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a service indicating device which is of a simple and economical construction. 7

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a stand having a base in form of an ash tray with upwardly ex tended standards, a cigar shaped casing pivotally mounted in the upper ends of the standards and,

having a cylindrical opening therethrough with a cap threaded in one end of the opening, a'transparent shield in the opposite end and with a light bulb in combination with contacts and a battery slidably mounted therein.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the serv ice indicator taken on line l--lofFigure 2.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the serv;

. ice indicator taken from a point at a right angle tothat shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the service indicator.

Figure 4 is a vertical section similar to that shown in Figure 1 illustrating the device with the casing inverted.

Figure 5 is a cross section through the casing taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved electric light service indicator of this invention includes a cylindrical or barrel shaped casing I0 having a battery H therein and with a cap [2 threaded in one end of the casing and a shield l3 positioned in the opposite end, and a stand upon which the casing is pivotally mounted with the stand having a base l4 and standards I5 and 16 between the upper ends of which the casing I0 is pivotally mounted by pins l1 and I8, respectively.

The casing I0 which is formed with an arcuate outer surface, is provided with a bore IS in which the battery ll is positioned and the shield l3 which may be formed of crystal, plastic or other suitable transparent or translucent material is secured in one end of the bore with a bead 20 provided around the shield. The opposite end of the casing is provided with a threaded counter bore 2| in which a sleeve 22 of the cap I2 is threaded thereby providing a closure for the end of the casing and also providing means whereby the battery may be removed and replaced.

A metal band 23 having an end 24 extended across the inner surface of the cap [2 and another end 25 extended into the bore at the opposite end, is fixedly mounted in the casing with the ends positioned as shown in the drawing. The distance between the ends 24 and 25 is greater than the length of the battery whereby with the battery resting upon the contact or end 25, with the ppsition of the casing inverted, a light bulb 26 held by a contact arm 21 extended from one side of the battery casing, is spaced from the contact end 25 whereby a circuit to the light is incomplete. The parts are positioned whereby with the casing turned over or inverted the battery H slides downwardly to the opposite end where the contact 28 thereof engages the end 24 of the band 23. In this position the terminal 29 of the light bulb contacts the end 25 of the band 23 as shown in Figure 1. In this position a circuit is completed through the light bulb so that a light shows through the shield l3, indicating that service is desired.

The arm 25 is provided with an insulating 3 sleeve 30, and as illustrated by the dotted lines 3| the end of the arm is forced into a surrounding sleeve of the battery casing, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

The upper surface of the base I4 is provided with a recess 32 and cigar and cigarette holding recesses 33 and 34 may be provided in the rim so that the device may be used as an ash tray.

With the parts arranged in this manner the service indicator may be positioned upon a table with the light downward, as in the position shown in Figure 4 and when service is desired the casing is inverted whereby the battery ll slides toward It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a table service indicator, the combination which comprises a substantially cylindrical casing having a longitudinally disposed bore extended ther'ethrough, a substantially semi-spherical shield of translucent material fixedly mounted in one end of the bore and extended from the end of the casing and a cap threaded in the opposite end of the casing, a base having oppositely positioned uprights with pins extendedinwardly from the upper ends of the uprights and on which the casing is pivotally mounted, and a battery slidably mounted in the bore of the casing, a light bulb positioned in the bore of the casing, an arm extended from the battery and in which the light bulb is carried, and a contact band with inwardly extended ends mounted in the bore of the casing and positioned whereby with the shield extended upwardly a circuit is completed to the light bulb and with the cap in the opposite end of the casing extended upwardly the circuit to the light bulb is incomplete.

2. In a table service indicator, the combination which comprises a substantially cylindrical casing having a longitudinally disposed bore extended therethrough, a substantially semi spherical shield of translucent material fixedly mounted in one end of the bore and extended from the end of the casing and a cap threaded in the opposite end of the casing, a base having oppositely positioned uprights with pins extended inwardly from the upper ends of the uprights and on which the casing is p-ivotally mounted, a battery slidably mounted in the bore of the casing, a light bulb positioned in the bore of the casing, an arm extended from the battery and in which the light bulb is carried, and a contact band with inwardly extended ends mounted in the bore of the casing and positioned whereby with the shield extended upwardly the circuit is completed to the light bulb; and with the cap in the opposite end of the casing extended upwardly the circuit to the light bulb is incomplete, said base having an enlarged recess in the upper surface.

JORGE M. CESAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,149,933 Martzolf Aug. 10, 1915 2,305,656 Yopp Dec. 22, 1942 2,363,825 Yardeny Nov. 28, 1944 

